3 Keys to Effective Communication in Relationships
By Brian Noonan
One of the biggest problems in broken relationships is a breakdown of communication. It's essential that you keep the communication flowing in your relationship to keep it fresh and on fire.
Here are three keys to effective communication:
- Be honest -- Lying to your partner, even little lies, causes mistrust and without trust a relationship won't last long. Learn to tell the truth about everything and when you are on the listening end create an atmosphere that allows for honesty. Don't be critical or attack your partner when he or she is honest with you. Thank them for being honest and then start working through what you've just discovered.
- Ask questions -- One of the best ways to get to know your partner is to ask questions. I've heard so many times when a couple divorces..."We just grew apart. We went in different directions in life." That means, "we stopped communicating and lost touch with each other. I don't know him/her anymore." If you don't know what questions to ask you can start with these great ideas.
- Listen -- Communication is a two way process. It's not just talking. It's listening too. I find that I am easily distracted when my wife is talking to me and sometimes I have to remove all distractions (i.e., turn off the tv, put the book down, write down what you need to do so you're not thinking about it) before I can truly hear her. There's not much more you can do to better show you care about a person than to truly listen. Don't anticipate what you're going to say in response. Don't change the subject. Just listen. Guys, don't try to figure out how you can 'fix' the problem (if it's a problem you're listening to). Sometimes women just want to be listened to without a 'fix'.
Following these three simple, but effective communication tips will be sure to help you be a better romantic in your relationship.
About the Author:
Bryan Noonan is a leading expert in keeping romance alive in your relationships. His monthly newsletter features fresh free romantic ideas, timely articles, and tips for keeping your romance alive.
Bryan Noonan may be contacted at http://www.freeromanticideas.com/ or email romance@freeromanticideas.com.
